Art Therapy and Social Action: Treating the World's Wounds

by Frances Kaplan (Editor), Marian Liebmann (Contribution by), Rachel Lev-Wiesel (Contribution by), Rachel ORourke (Contribution by), Lani Gerity (Contribution by)

Overview

Art Therapy and Social Action is an exciting exploration of how professionals can incorporate the techniques and approaches of art therapy in their work to address social problems. Examining the expanding role of art practitioner as social activist, leading art therapists and other professionals show how creative methods can be used effectively to resolve conflicts, manage aggression, heal trauma and build communities. The contributors provide examples of innovative programs on a range of topics, including those designed to address gun crime, homelessness, racism and experiences of terrorism, among others.

This timely book provides new techniques and successful models for art therapists, counselors and mental health practitioners working directly with the challenges of modern society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843107989
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	09/15/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.13(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Frances F. Kaplan is an eminent art therapist and teaches graduate art therapy courses at Marylhurst College and Portland State University, both in Oregon. She has published widely, presented at national conferences, worked for peace organizations.

Lani Gerity worked with dissociative adults for more than a decade in New York and has presented internationally and written on the dissociative patient, and on puppetry with adults. She currently practises art therapy in Ontario, Canada, assists with an art therapy programme for refugee children, serves as a visiting faculty member at New York University, and leads puppet-making workshops.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Frances F. Kaplan, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, OR. Part I. Expanding the Therapeutic Role. 1. Art Therapy as a Tool for Social Change: A Conceptual Model. Dan Hocoy, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA. 2.The Art Therapist as Social Activist: Reflections on a Life. Maxine Borowsky Junge, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA. Part II. Acting and Reflecting on the Action. 3.Facing Homelessness: A Community Mask Making Project. Pat B. Allen, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. 4.Wielding the Shield: The Art Therapist as Conscious Witness in the Realm of Social Action. Pat B. Allen. Part III. Resolving Conflict. 5.Art and Conflict Resolution. Frances F. Kaplan. 6. Drawing Out Conflict. Anndy Wiselogle, East Metro Meditation of the City of Gresham, Gresham, OR. Part IV. Confronting Anger and Aggression. 7.Anger Management Art Therapy for Clients in the Mental Health System. Marian Liebmann, Inner City Mental Health Service, Bristol, UK. 8. Symbolic Interactionism, Aggression, and Art Therapy. David Gussak, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. 9.The Paper People Project on Gun Violence. Rachel Citron O'Rourke, Portland, OR. Part V. Healing Trauma. 10. Some Personal and Clinical Thoughts About Trauma, Art, and World Events. Annette Shore, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, OR 11. Artmaking as a Response to Terrorism. Rachel Lev-Weisel, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel and Nancy Slater, Adler School for Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL. Part VI. Building Community. 12. Unity in Diversity: Communal Pluralism in the Art Studio and the Classroom. Michael Franklin, Naropa University, Boulder, CO, Merryl E. Rothaus,Naropa University, Boulder, CA and Kendra Schpok, Mount Saint Vincent Home,Denver, CO. 13. Art and Community Building from the Puppet- and Mask Maker's Perspective. Lani Gerity, Prospect, Nova Scotia, Canada and Edward "Ned" Albert Bear, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. 14. Art Therapy for this Multicultural World Susan Berkowitz, Founder, All People's Day®, Lake Hiawatha, NJ. The Contributors. Subject Index. Author Index.

Editorial Reviews

It is to the credit of the contributors to this book that they have shown that art can not only act as medicine to aid recovery but also as social action to inspire change.

Journal of Social Work Practice

This I believe, is the first book that expands the work of people in the caring professionals to embrace social action. It gives vast opportunities for healing, growth and development to client, practitioner and society. The book is essential reading; it belongs on the bookshelf of counsellors, art therapists, social activists and the like; it belongs on the reading list of courses dealing with human development. Another benefit of this splendid book is that it brings much evidence of the effectiveness of art therapy and other creative therapies.

Liesl Silverstone

Art therapy is a powerful modality that can access imagery directly, thus mediating between conscious and unconscious, and between individual and community. In Art Therapy and Social Action, Frances Kaplan ably documents the new development of art therapy to include social and spiritual awareness by providing clear conceptual frameworks and examples of actual applications in the United Kingdom and the United States. For all those interested in psychotherapy, creativity, and social consciousness, this book will be very valuable.

PsycCritiques

Kaplan (art therapy, Marylhurst U.) compiles 14 essays that describe the use of art therapy to address social problems. Contributors, art therapists and artists from the US, Israel, and Canada describe applications and their experiences with programs using art therapy for homelessness, conflict resolution, anger management and aggression, gun violence, trauma, terrorism, and building community.

Booknews

This exciting an innovative book explores how art therapy techniques can be incorporated by members of helping professionals into their work to deal with social ills. In this way, the practitioner also becomes the social activist.

Therapy Today

Art Therapy and Social Action is a fascinating collection of essays.The emphasis of the book is to provide professionals such as social workers, counsellors, social activists, therapists and artists with theories and techniques to be more effective in their work while addressing social problems, such as homelessness, conflict resolution, trauma, racism, gun crime and terrorism... this excellent book should make a significant contribution to art therapy practice.

AT Newsbriefing